Remember when we posted about Chelsea Hightower, Peta Murgatroyd, and Tristan MacManus’ trip to Germany to see the troops in June. Well, Zap2it has a fantastic new article up with Chelsie. Not only did these three help the troops morale, the troops helped them as well. Chelsie talks of how inspirational they were and how the experience refocused her “beyond the dance floor” and a “Mirror Ball”. She also mentions a new idea she had of working her USO experience into Dancing With The Stars. I hope producers listen to her. More below. Be sure to read the link to read the full story.

According to Hightower, the moment that impacted her the most was when she got to visit a transport aircraft taking wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan to America after medical treatment in Germany.

“We actually got to stand on the plane,” she says, “as they were loading the passengers up. The wounded warriors were coming on, missing legs and with bullet holes; some of them were hurt by grenades.

“It was amazing to be able to talk to them a little bit. Just those images will remain with me for the rest of my life. That feeling I had, when they were carrying these passengers on, that these guys are giving their lives. They’re risking their lives, every single day, to fight for our country, and how noble that is.”

Hightower has also refocused her gaze on the world beyond the dance floor.

“It’s got me interested in America,” she says, “and what’s going on in politics, what’s going on in the country. It’s so important for people to know that, to know what’s going on.”

She’s also come to appreciate the freedom that has allowed a girl from Orem, Utah, to become a successful ballroom dancer and TV personality.

“I think that was God’s plan all along,” she says, ” to have freedom. To be an American, to live that way, is priceless. That is something I definitely don’t take for granted.”

The cast for this fall’s edition of “Dancing With the Stars” is set to be announced on Aug. 29, with the season premiere airing Sept. 19 on ABC. Performing for the troops made Hightower realize that it’s not just all about the mirror-ball trophy.

“It was cool to get out there,” she says, “and see what appreciation they have for us. We are realizing the people we inspire, as well. For these troops, just to have that escape, to forget about all the craziness they have to deal with on a regular basis, to be able to turn on the TV and watch something that’s lighthearted, takes their minds off it.

“I hope [‘Dancing With the Stars’] does inspire people to get out there, work their butts off and go after their dream. You can’t get by on two hours of practice and do it half-assed, because you’re not going to make it. You’ll get cut pretty quickly. It’s a show about hard work and what hard work can do for you.”

Hightower even has a notion about how to work her USO experience into the show.

“We were talking to a couple of the soldiers out there,” she says, “that we should do a soldier episode or a soldier season. It’d be so cool. So, I’ve been talking to the producers about that a little bit, nudge them, see if they’ll do it.

“Maybe [it could be] a summer special or something. We’ll see if we can do that.”

I'm a fashion and music fan....and I have always loved dancing too of any kind. Dancing With The Stars seems to have this way of bringing all of those things together. One of my favorite dancing quotes at the moment: "No matter what, nobody can take away the dance you've already had...." ~Gleb Savchenko . For fun music and dance mixes, visit WilUnleashed Soundcloud. To view my photography site, see Lisa Kay Photography.

3 responses to "Chelsie Hightower Wants To Work Her Inspirational USO Experience Into Dancing With The Stars"

I think that they should have a soilder on the show! They are the biggest and most important celebrities/stars in America (the President being a close second). A summer special with all soilders would be GREAT! It could be a week thing with each soilder doing two dances each and with the judges of course.

Or maybe use a few of the pros as judges. That would be interesting! But I like the idea of this being a special summer thing. Maybe five or six soliders for four weeks of comp. That would be really fun!